The Deshaun Watson saga has intrigued the football world in recent weeks. There has been enough internal drama to turn Watson down and lead him to file for a trade, which would put a franchise quarterback on the market in his prime.
Not much is known about what happened inside the Texan organization that led to Watson’s disapproval, other than the fact that he was not consulted about hiring the Texans’ new general manager, Nick Caserio.
But how bad are things in Houston?
Someone who knows a little about that culture within the Texas organization is Bears Safety Tashaun Gipson, who was released by Houston last off-season and picked up by Chicago.
‘Listen, man, I can honestly tell you, not just from the outside, but speaking from the inside, it’s just different. It’s different, ”said Gipson on The Hoge & Jahns Podcast.
“That’s no shadow to all involved, but when you see an organization losing a man like DeAndre Hopkins and some of the moves and the things they’ve made, it’s hard to (understand how not to) your franchise player “I think it’s a top three quarterback in the National Football League. So losing someone like that says a lot about what’s going on at the top.”
At the center of the Texans’ controversy is Executive Vice President Jack Easterby, who is not exactly a proven football manager as evidenced by everything that has happened over the past few seasons.
Houston’s toxic football culture has been a hot topic, particularly what had to happen before Watson wanted to leave just one year after signing a $ 156 million four-year extension.
It started with trading arguably the best receiver in football, DeAndre Hopkins, to the Arizona Cardinals and ended with Easterby hiring the Texans’ new general manager without consulting Watson – after they told him that would do.
“My situation was completely different from Hop’s and totally different from (Watson’s), but it just shows how things are managed there, it’s crazy when you think about it,” Gipson said. “Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that a quarterback in his prime – I mean, he hasn’t even peaked yet – that he wants out after signing a life-changing contract, it’s similar to everything everyone else has. Let’s just say that. “
While the Texans have been making phone calls about Watson, it’s still unclear whether they’re actually going to trade him or watch things go off-season. Houston insists that Watson is their quarterback of the future, but that quarterback doesn’t want anything to do with them.
But if Watson were to enter the open market, there is no doubt that he would earn quite a bit of compensation from many interested teams. Obviously, the Bears are one of those teams.
“He’s a good friend of mine and I have nothing but respect for him as a player and as a leader and where he ends up, he will make that team a super contender,” said Gipson. “I can tell you that.”
Assuming Gipson signs an extension in this off-season, he may be able to help recruit Watson for the Bears.